Metabolome and transcriptome analyses provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of medicinal component content in the roots of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms through foliar application of zinc fertilizer.

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms is a perennial shrub of the Acanthopanax genus in the Araliaceae family and has a high medicinal value. The application of zinc fertilizer can improve the yield and quality of medicinal materials. However, there are limited reports on approaches to increase the content of medicinal components in A. senticosus, hindering the improvement of its medicinal quality. In this study, A. senticosus was treated with 0.1% (LZn) and 0.4% (HZn) zinc sprayed on the leaf surface. The effects of zinc treatment on the medicinal components in the roots of A. senticosus were analyzed by comprehensive metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. A total of 316 metabolites were detected, with a prevailing occurrence of terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. We identified metabolites related to the medicinal components that were upregulated after Zn treatment, including 43 terpenoids, 19 phenylpropanoids, eight phenols, and three flavonoids. Combining differential gene expression and K-means analysis, we found 95, 65, and 25 upregulated genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis, respectively. Under different concentrations of Zn treatment, the upregulated metabolite biosynthesis-related genes and differentially expressed transcription factors varied. Pearson correlation network analysis revealed significant correlations among terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids biosynthetic genes, and several transcription factors (ERFs, WRKYs, bHLHs, NACs, and MYBs). This study lays the foundation for understanding the metabolic processes in response to varying levels of zinc foliar spray and provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the efficiency of zinc fertilizer utilization in A. senticosus.

LC-MS metabolomics profiling of Salvia aegyptiaca L. and S. lanigera Poir. with the antimicrobial properties of their extracts.

BACKGROUND: Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) found in almost all countries in temperate and tropical regions. Both S. aegyptiaca L. and S. lanigera Poir. have a rather wide distribution in Egypt (Mediterranean region, Gebel Elba and nearly the whole Sinai). Salvia species showed antibacterial and antifungal activities against several groups of food microorganisms and pathogens, so they are considered as a natural foods preservatives. AIM: Investigate the phytochemical profiles of S. aegyptiaca & S. lanigera collected from their natural habitats in Egypt and test the antimicrobial activities of both species against some bacteria and fungi pathogenic strains. METHODOLOGY: In the present study, S. aegyptiaca and S. lanigera were collected from their natural habitat. Total phenolics and flavonoids contents were measured for aerial parts of both Salvia spp.. The separation and identification of the pure active materials of both Salvia sp. by using LC-MS system (UHPLC-TSQ Quantum Mass Spectrometer). The antimicrobial activities of the ethanol, water and benzene extracts of the two species were tested against different pathogenic strains and compared with the standard antimicrobial drug (Gentamycin). Antimicrobial activity was determined by using agar disk diffusion method. RESULTS: The phenolics content in S. lanigera 132.61±6.23 mg/g and S. aegyptiaca 125.19±4.97 mg/g, while the flavonoids content was 35.68±1.84 and 40.63±2.11 mg/g, respectively. Through LC-MS analysis, two compounds were detected in both species; heptadecanoyl coenzyme A, that the highest percentage (13.5%) in S. aegyptiaca and (11.5 %) in S. lanigera. Oenin, in a peak area of 3.1% in S. aegyptiaca and 1.2 % in S. lanigera. Ethanol extract of the two species had the most inhibitory effect against all tested microorganisms that exceeded the effect of the standard, except for Mucor reinelloids which was more sensitive to the water extract. Moreover, S. lanigera ethanol extract showed larger inhibition zone than S. aegyptiaca in all tested microorganisms except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CONCLUSION: This study shows the important phytochemicals that improve the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Salvia aegyptiaca and S. lanigera.

Identifying the Anti-MERS-CoV and Anti-HcoV-229E Potential Drugs from the Ginkgo biloba Leaves Extract and Its Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles.

The present study aimed to estimate the antiviral activities of Ginkgo biloba (GB) leaves extract and eco-friendly free silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against the MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus) and HCoV-229E (human coronavirus 229E), as well as isolation and identification of phytochemicals from GB. Different solvents and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to extract and identify flavonoids and phenolic compounds from GB leaves. The green, silver nanoparticle synthesis was synthesized from GB leaves aqueous extract and investigated for their possible effects as anti-coronaviruses MERS-CoV and HCoV-229E using MTT assay protocol. To verify the synthesis of Ag NPs, several techniques were employed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scan, transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The highest contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds were recorded for acetone, methanol, and ethanol as mixtures with water, in addition to pure water. HPLC flavonoids were detected as apegenin, luteolin, myricetin, and catechin, while HPLC phenolic compounds were pyrogallol, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. In addition, our results revealed that Ag NPs were produced through the shift from yellow to dark brown. TEM examination of Ag NPs revealed spherical nanoparticles with mean sizes ranging from 5.46 to 19.40 nm and an average particle diameter of 11.81 nm. A UV-visible spectrophotometric investigation revealed an absorption peak at λ max of 441.56 nm. MTT protocol signified the use of GB leaves extract as an anti-coronavirus to be best from Ag NPs because GB extract had moderate anti-MERS-CoV with SI = 8.94, while had promising anti-HCov-229E, with an SI of 21.71. On the other hand, Ag NPs had a mild anti-MERS-CoV with SI = 4.23, and a moderate anti-HCoV-229E, with an SI of 7.51.

Comparison Among Five Eucalyptus Species Based on Their Leaf Contents of Some Primary and Secondary Metabolites.

BACKGROUND: Eucalyptus belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It is the most planted hardwood forest crop worldwide, representing a global renewable resource of fiber, pharmaceuticals and energy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the five species, E. maidenii, E. robusta, E. citriodora, E. tereticornis and E. camaldulensis, seeking for the richest source of nutrients and pharmaceuticals. METHODOLOGY: Eucalyptus samples were subjected to some chemical determinations for both primary and secondary metabolites to verify their nutritional and pharmaceutical importance related to different extracts. GC-MS analysis was applied to detect the presence of some individual phenolic constituents in their leaves. RESULTS: E. robusta recorded the maximum contents of carbohydrates (40.07%) and protein (31.91%). While E. camaldulensis contained the highest contents of total phenolic compounds (46.56 mg/g), tannins (40.01 mg/g) and antioxidant activities assayed by the phosphomolybednum method (57.60 mg/g), followed by E. citridora. However, E. tereticornis exhibited the highest reducing power ability (151.23 mg/g). The GC-MS highlighted 20 phenolic constituents and antioxidants which varied in their abundance in Eucalyptus leaves, 8 individual phenolics (hydroquinone, hesperitin, pyrogallol, resorcinol, protocatechuic acid, naringenin, chlorogenic acid and catechin) were maximally recorded with E. camaldulensis and secondly, with E. citridora in case of at least 5 components. Nevertheless, gallic and quinic acids were more abundant in the leaves of E. tereticornis, which may explain its high corresponding reducing powers. CONCLUSION: Acetone-water combination has enhanced phenolics extraction from Eucalyptus tissues. This is the first report aiming to compare between the aforementioned Eucalyptus species highlighting either their nutritional or medicinal importance.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidants from Eucalyptus camaldulensis as affected by some extraction conditions, a preparative optimization for GC-MS analysis.

Four organic solvents along with water were applied for the conventional extraction of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae), phenolic contents and antioxidant activities were investigated through variable protocols and correlation coefficients were considered, the phenolic composition was also characterized by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Using solvents with dissimilar polarities affected the phenolic yields extracted from E. camaldulensis and their related antioxidant activities varied significantly among the four investigated plant organs. The leaf extract of acetone 70% contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds (46.56 mg/g dry weight); while the bud-water boiled extract maintained the maximum value of tannins (45.68 mg/g dry weight). Correlation coefficients indicated that phenolic compounds were mostly accountable for the phosphomolybednum antioxidant potentials (0.520), followed by tannins (0.460). Also, both the reducing power activities and hydrogen peroxide scavenging of E. camaldulensis extracts positively correlated with tannins, but at different significance degrees. However, the GC-MS analysis revealed that most of the detected phenolic constituents were more abundant in the plant seed. So, the existence of some other compounds such as organic acids, along with phenolics, may have increased the antioxidant potentials of leaf and bud. Undeniably, the optimization of extraction conditions could stimulate the antioxidant capabilities of the plant extracts of E. camaldulensis.

Comparative effects of some extraction solvents on the antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf, bud, capsule and seed crude extracts.

Well diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, while the antifungal effect was assessed by calculating the reduction percent in the radial growth of mycelia. The inhibition zones exerted by E. camaldulensis crude extracts varied significantly (p ≤ 0.01). The capsule crude extract (acetone 30%) highly inhibited the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii (35 mm clear zone). The highest antifungal activity was against Rhizopus stolonifer with a reduction percent in its radial growth reached to 96%. The bacterial MICs ranged from 20 to 0.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis respectively. The MIC values for fungi were between 18 mg/mL (Mucor sp.) and 4 mg/mL (R. stolonifer). Both type and concentration of the solvent greatly affected the antimicrobial potentials of E. camaldulensis. The empty capsule and bud of E. camaldulensis are recognized for the first time as potentially natural resources of effective antimicrobial agents.